Submerged water-wheel.



O. L. MORGENSTERN. SUBMERGED WATER WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 26, 1911. 1,01 3,508. Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

wLumsu PLANOGRAFH cm, WASHINGTON. 1. c

0. L.,MORGBNSTERN. SUBMERGED WATER WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 26, 1911.

' Patented J an. 2, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH COJ'W ASHINGTON. D. c.

OSCAR L. MORGENSTER-N, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SUBMERGED W ATER-WHEEL.

Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

Serial No. 646,098.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR L. MORGEN- STERN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Submerged WVater-VVheels, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to water wheels, and more particularly to the class of submerged water wheels.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a water wheel in which water in a running stream will be effective thereon for rotating the same, so that its energy may be utilized for driving machinery or the like.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a water wheel in which the same may be raised and lowered within a running stream of water, thereby adjusting it to the rise and fall in the water body, and that will receive the full impact of the running water for rotating it, whereby the same may be utilized as motive power for driving machinery or the like.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a water wheel which may be positioned upon the bed of a water stream, whether the stream be high or low, so that the wheel will receive the full force of the running water for motive power in operating machinery or the like.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a water wheel which is simple in construction, strong, durable, thoroughly reliable and eflicient in operation, and inexpensive in manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation of the water wheel, looking toward the inlet side thereof. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line l4 of Fig. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, the water wheel comprises a vertically disposed casing formed with outwardly curved side walls 5 and 6, the latter side wall having a curvature considerably greater than the curvature of the side wall 5, the same being spaced from each other to form inlet and outlet gaps to and from the casing. At the inlet side of the casing, the side wall 5 is formed with an angularly disposed eXtension 7 which alfords an increased gap between the side walls at the inlet side of the casing with respect to the outlet side thereof.

Arranged at the inlet and outlet sides of the casing are hopper-shaped inlet and outlet passages 8 and 9, respectively, to and from the casing, the said passages being formed by means of outwardly diverging and vertical deflector walls 10 and 11, the walls 11 being disposed at an acute angle with respect to the walls 10, which latter merge into the side wall 6, while one of the deflector walls 11 merges into the side wall 5, and the remaining deflector wall 11 eX- tends inwardly a slight distance beyond the extension 7 on said side wall 5, so that on the ingress of running water into the casing through the inlet passage 8, said water will be directed toward the side wall 6, thereby causing such water to impact against a rotary water wheel, presently described.

The casing is mounted in a skeleton frame structure, comprising spaced vertical posts 12, united at opposite ends to top and bottom sills 13, the vertical posts being arranged exteriorly of the casing and bearing against the outer faces thereof, the bottom sills 18 being adapted to rest upon the bed in a running stream, so that the casing will be supported vertically therein, and the entrance passage 8 faces the direction of flow of the water, or in other words, it will be disposed upstream, while the outlet passage 9 will be disposed downstream, so that the running water may pass into the inlet passage 8, and thence through the casing and finally pass therefrom through the outlet passage 9 of the same for operating the motor or water wheel arranged interiorly of the casing, and that will be presently described.

Arranged concentrically within the casing is a vertically disposed stationary shaft 14, the lower end of which is anchored in the bed of the stream, and at its opposite end is engaged in a supporting bearing 15 secured to the top sills 13 transversely of the casing.

Surrounding the stationary shaft 14 is a slidable tube 16, the same being formed at diametrically opposite points with inwardly extending guide keys 17 integral therewith, the same slidably engaging in opposed grooves 18 formed longitudinally in the stationary shaft 14, the tube or sleeve 16, at its upper end, being formed with an outturned circular head 19, while at the opposite end of the sleeve or tube 16, is formed an outturned circular-shaped turn-table 20, the head 19 having mounted thereon locking dogs 21, which latter are adapted for engagement with the teeth or racks 22 formed in the beds of the grooves 18 in the stationary shaft 141. Thus, in this manner, the tube or sleeve 16 may be raised or lowered upon the stationary shaft and sustained in adjusted position, the tube being raised and lowered in a. manner presently described.

Surrounding the tube or sleeve 16 is a rotatable hub 23 of a water wheel, comprising a cylindrical center core 21 disposed concentrically about the hub 23, the said core 24 being of considerably less length than the hub and is closed at its opposite ends by circular heads 25, in which are mounted at intervals, near the peripheries thereof, vertical pivots 26, the same being eccentrically connected to concaved blades or wings 27, which are free to swing to operative and passive positions, during the rotation of the water wheel.

The core has formed on its outer peripheral face at intervals abutment lugs 28,

against which are adapted to engage the in-,

ner edges of the blades when swung into a position for receiving the impact of the water when entering the inlet passage 8 in the casing, the lugs 28 being provided with beveled faces 29 which permit the clearance of the inner edges of the blades 27 when swinging away from the abutment lugs 28, after being relieved of water pressure thereon. It will be observed that the water entering the inlet passage 8 is directed to one side of the axis of movement of the water wheel, and against the blades 27, causing the automatic opening thereof to receive the full impact of the water, whereby the water wheel will be rotated with the least possible resistance from the water, when being directed through the casing and exhausted or discharged through the outlet passage 9 thereof. As the water enters the inlet passage 8 of the casing, the blades will swing outwardly to receive the full impact thereof, and on the discharge of water through the outlet passage 9 of the casing, the blades will swing inwardly, so as to be relieved of water pressure thereon when discharging from the casing. Thus, in this manner the water to the water level therein.

wheel is caused to rotate with considerable velocity, thereby producing power with maximum speed for the driving of machinery or the like by the utilization of the water force in the running stream.

Mounted upon the top sills 13 is a platform 30, from which rise suitable bearings 31, in which is jour-naled a winding and unwinding windlass 32, the same being supported by means of a driving shaft 33 journaled in the bearings 31, one end of the shaft having integral therewith or otherwise attached a turning crank 34, whereby the Windlass may be rotated.

Fixed to the windlass 32 and adapted to be reversely wound on and unwound from the same are cables 35, the same being trained over friction rollers or drums 36, suitably journaled in bearings 37 fixed to and rising from the top sills 13, the cables 35 being also comiected to the circularshaped heads 19 of the tube or sleeve 16, so that upon the winding of said cables upon said Windlass 32, the water wheel may be raised within the casing for positioning it properly within the water stream relative Upon the unwinding of the cables 35 from the Windlass 32, the said water wheel may be lowered in the stream, the locking dogs or pawls 21 be ing adapted to hold the wheel in adjusted position within the casing, as the same will lock with the racks 22 formed on the stasaid casing.

Formed on the upper end of the hub 23,-

above the water wheel, is a pulley 38, over which is adapted to be trained a driving belt or cable (not shown) of machinery or the like for the running of the latter. It is evident that on the rotation of the water wheel within the casing, said wheel will freely rotate without undue friction. Fixed tothe hub 23 and the heads 25 of the water wheel are circular-shaped plates 39, which fasten the water wheel to the said hub, one of the plates 39 being adapted to frictiona-lly contact with the turn-table 20 on the sleeve or tube 16, during the rotation of the said water wheel.

hat is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a casing having inlet and outlet passages at opposite points thereof, a stationary shaft mounted eccentrically within said casing and having diametrically opposed guide grooves throughout the length thereof, a sleeve slidably fitted on the shaft and having keys slidably engaging in the grooves in the shaft to prevent rotation of the sleeve thereon, a water wheel journaled upon said sleeve and having hinged blades for opening and closing movements, and abutments on the water wheel engageable by the blades when in open position, and

mechanism for raising and lowering the sleeve on the shaft.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a vertically disposed easing having outwardly arched side walls, and hoppershaped inlet and outlet passages at opposite points of the casing, said passages being coextensive with the casing, a stationary shaft mounted eccentrically Within the casing, a non-rotatable sleeve slidably mounted upon the shaft, a rotatable hub supported upon the sleeve, a water wheel carried by the hub and having hinged blades adapted for opening and closing movements within the casing, a skeleton frame supporting said casing within a body of water, the said inlet passage being disposed to direct the water toward the outer edges of the blades of the water wheel, and mechanism for raising and lowering the sleeve on the stationary shaft.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a vertically disposed casing having outwardly arched side walls, and hoppershaped inlet and outlet passages at opposite points of the casing, said passages being coextensive with the casing, a stationary shaft mounted eccentrically within the casing, a non-rotatable sleeve slidably mounted upon the shaft, a rotatable hub supported upon the sleeve, a water wheel carried by the hub and having hinged blades adapted for opening and closing movements within the cas ing, a skeleton frame supporting said casing within a body of water, the said inlet passage being disposed to direct the water to ward the outer edges of the blades of the water wheel, mechanism for raising and lowering the sleeve on the stationary shaft, and means for looking the sleeve to the stationary shaft when in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OSCAR L. MORGENSTERN.

Witnesses:

LOUIS J. Sunss, DANIEL J. MOCRUDDEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

